Do you have a link to that?

The NYT report I read said that there had been no outside verification of the email having anything to do with the Clinton staff.

So far as I know it is just a Drudge claim; if he really has staff email, why hasn't he released that?

There is proof that it has been around for much longer. And even Drudge didn't claim the CLinton staff person had sent it to HIM; he just said he had 'obtained' an email commenting on it.

The origin of the photo is established. It's still at a reputable African site, www.geeskaafrika.com/ethiopia_31aug06.ht m

Some sensible coverage: http://bigheaddc.com/2008/02/25/drudge-f alsely-accuses-clinton-of-obama-photo-ti es/   VERY SENSIBle, they asked africa!

It's been talked about and linked to since at least Feb 11: http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:adB TPDeWAgMJ:forums.sohh.com/showthread.php %3Ft%3D976671+komo_somalikenya.jpg&h l=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=us& client=opera

One of the MSM blogs (Tapper?) said he has been getting it in email for quite a while -- though not from any Clinton staff.

No, the NYT said there is no confirmation of any connection with any Clinton staff. If Drudge did have such an email, he should release it, not just assert claims about it.

The origin of the photo is established. It's still at a reputable African site, www.geeskaafrika.com/ethiopia_31aug06.ht m

Some sensible coverage: http://bigheaddc.com/2008/02/25/drudge-f alsely-accuses-clinton-of-obama-photo-ti es/   VERY SENSIBle, they asked africa!

It's been talked about and linked to since at least Feb 11: http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:adB TPDeWAgMJ:forums.sohh.com/showthread.php %3Ft%3D976671+komo_somalikenya.jpg&h l=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=us& client=opera

One of the MSM blogs (Tapper?) said he has been getting it in email for quite a while -- though not from any Clinton staff.

The rightwingers were posting it and talking about sending it to Drudge; doubtless some of them did. Drudge decided to link it to 'Clinton staff'. Actually he didn't claim Clinton staff SENT it to him -- just that he 'obtained' an email where they were commenting on it.

No other media got anything like this from Clinton staff.

The clear thing is that Obama's people jumped in with a vile accusation against Hillary, then admitted they didn't really know anything about the story!

it gave Obama a chance to play the victim again, he's going for that sympathy vote he wrongly claims Hillary gets.  He's amazing, he'll do anything to get the nom.  He likes to play dumb, but why? Does he think the people are too dumb to want a great president?  There is some game plan her, and I don't like it.   At least Dick had his prostitute, what's Obama getting? (Oh, yeah, he gets to be the nom? She wants a job, he wants a title?)  

I suspect that Williams was trying to push back without (much) knowledge, but also didn't want picture to rule the news cycle, with headlines like: Clinton denies racist smear.  See how that works?  Later in the day, two separate Clinton officials denied knowledge of the photo, and the staffer linked to Drudge also denied knowledge of the photo.  

"why didn't the Clinton campaign issue a denial? Perhaps there's something I'm missing (that wouldn't be a first), but why bother to issue a statement without refuting the allegations that the photo came from the Clinton campaign?"

My take on it stems from the statement that Clinton has over 700 staffers.  I think they were afraid to deny that a Clinton staffer leaked the picture only to have it come out later that in fact it had.  I believe that the honestly didnt know for sure and were being careful.  It would be a bitch to deny only to find out that someone was off the reservation.

And in their infinite hatred of Clinton, everyone took the lack of denial as "proof" that she in fact was playing dirty tricks.

The Clintons are not my favorite people, but all the hate has me rooting for them because I feel that they are good honest Democrats and are taking a totally unfair beating from Obama supporters.  For that reason, I will not lift a finger to help the Obama campaign in my state.  Not that it matters... I live in South Dakota  LOL!

B/c they couldn't know for certain that some low level staff - one of among 700 staff didn't forward it and they weren't about to waste time grilling all 700 folks this close to make or beak primaries.

I wouldn't have legitimzed BO's hissy fit over this w/ a denial either.

This is just another diversion - another excuse to NOT be talking about the issues that really matter.

Drudge linked the photo to Hillary. Why would they attempt to defend the picture instead of attacking Drudge. Hillary's campaign response does not make sense unless it was true. First Response

If Barack Obama's campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed.

I understand all that, but I don't understand why the campaign didn't issue a statement  that the it did not authorize the release of the photo, and if that if someone on their staff did so independently, that person would be dealt with harshly.

Why did the it remain silent about the allegation and allow itself to be tarnished by the presumption that it was involved with phot's release?

but I didn't accuse him the way he was so quick to accuse her. Now we know it was neither, sure glad I held my fire, oh, wait, I'm a nobody, no one cares what I think.  But, I'm sure no one listened to Obama either and hated Hillary even more and vowed to defeat her to show their love and respect for him?  Well, last night I ran into a friend who said, did you hear what Hillary did to Obama, he says so himself, it must be true.  I'm sure not voting for her, if she wins I'll vote for McCain. So, Senator Obama, thanks so much for standing up for our party, not!

http://www.mydd.com/comments/2008/2/26/8 4755/2577/19#19

The Clinton campaign are highly paid incompetents.

he was a NH co chair of her campaign and he resigned he wasn't fired.

To bad they were not speaking with one voice. Keystone cops messaging.

Please provide links for his sexist remarks and these other allegations.

I can provide links for the racist and negative remarks by the Clinton campaign.

So, Hillary never has the class to concede a loss and congratulate her opponent.

She probably won't have the class to drop out after she loses Texas on March 4th.

She'd rather take the party down kicking and screaming with her than give up what she thinks is her birthright.

I don't think "truth" is very highly regarded by a lot of people in the Obama camp - especially when that truth acquits Hillary of one of the innumerable vicious charges leveled at her by Obama and his surrogates.

it isn't the 'truth.'  Just a story you have convinced yourself MUST be true.

You won't have to worry about this sort of thing for much longer; I'd say about 8 days, maybe 9 tops.

Yes, he's such a comical figure he's won 25 out of 36 races!

Republican's could do a lot more with a picture of Hillary in Palestinian garb posing with Yasir Arafat's wife:

Actually, I've gained quite a lot of confidence in him as a prospective nominee to see how quick and agile his campaign has been in responding to attacks in the last two weeks.

Frankly, it reminds me of the great War Room of the 1992 Clinton campaign team.  You have to do everything right to win as an insurgent.  And Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have been quite competent insurgent candidacies.

It certainly seems that way sometimes. The GOP has a truckload wating to unload on Obama. He'll be on the defensive the entire election. They're saying it'll take about 2 weeks to wipe him out. That may be the only truth they've told this entire election season.

I hear that argument a lot about Obama.  Some version of "he's too naive to handle what the Republicans will throw at him".  But just look what happened here.  A photo mysteriously appears of Obama dressed in Islamic garb, supposedly one of his weaknesses that the GOP is waiting to exploit, and what happens?  All of a sudden, it makes Hillary look bad and people on this site are demanding an apology from...Obama.  I'd say that's not bad political judo.

True.  We don't know where the photo came from and it seems unlikely that it was the Clinton campaign at this point.

But.  Obama sure figured out how to use it to his advantage.  At this point, it doesn't even matter who put it out there.  The Obama campaign somehow got this to stick on the Clinton campaign.

True.  He is a media darling at the moment.

But.  I don't see how that's worse than being hated by the media at this point.

True.  The Republicans are way more sneaky than this (at least that's what we tend to think).

But.  Look, nothing has stuck to this guy so far:  Drug use as a teen, possible connections to Islam, some half-baked theory about a '60s radical, a silly picture of him in a Somali garb, some made-up story about not saying the Pledge of Allegiance.  Plus having all of this stuff come out now, while everyone is fixated on the Democratic primary, may give all of it an "old hat" quality when the Republicans pull it out in a few months.

I'm not sure what else he can do at this point to make people think he can take the heat.

BINGO!

This is exactly what the Republicans need. With the excitement of Democrats, and the distaste in the general public for Repuglicans, they need us to have a bloody primary so we come divided.  Hopefully the comments of not voting for so and so are just a phase.  We need to stand united.  Remember what will happen people if Republicans retain the WH

Nice find

you think a few of them forgot he was black?

Actually I think you are wrong.  There is no proof that a significant number of people only need to reminded that he is black and won't vote for him.  Those people wouldn't vote Democrat anyways.  And in actuality it is better if he blames it on Clinton because then it will be perceived as "Clintonian dirty politics" and will almost be totally disregarded because people will just assume it's Hillary playing politics rather than a true story to run with.

As a former Edwards supporter I find it actually entertaining to see them at each other throats at something as ridiculous as some stupid picture.  Yes, I understand the implied meaning behind it but come on! Anyone with half a brain will know that this picture doesn't really mean anything and if they looked into Obama's ties to Africa they'd understand.  So really I do not see why everyone is making such a big deal about it.  Whether or not it did come from Clinton is not the point.  Like the comment above mine WE NEED TO STOP EATING OUR OWN!

But Drudge did this on purpose--why should they apologize for a successful hit?

Why deny it? First, they would then be accused of lying by the people who choose to think badly of them.

Second, what is wrong with a picture of Obama dressed up like that? Why is everyone so worked up about it? I doubt that the picture came from the Clinton campaign because why would anyone there see it as a smear? People put on native dress often when they visit foreign countries. Aren't there some pics of past-presidents like that?

Chill everyone.

Because it shows lack of judgement to be fed and distracted by bad sources and lack of civility to react in the manner they did towards a respectable senator and fellow Democrat.

I think judgement is not important to you? Also, civility and new kind of politics is not important to you?